DL you're on the right track - Otto's advice is to cut trees UNDER 4" - anything OVER 4" should either be left or rotting roots will create fissures/dam failure, or excavate/rebuild entire root ball. In this case you either leave the big trees and anticipate major issues [potential dam failure] down the road, or do it right now and knock them out and rebuild areas where stumps are removed.

If it were my place - I'd contact Mike Otto and inquire his consulting rates and get him out for a day or two. MS isn't that far of a hop for him, and you can't source better professional advice in the world when it comes to engineering a BOW. He will guide you to the most effective and affordable solution.

1-800-882-DIRT (3478)
or
940-665-2258


Otto's Dirt Service
P.O. Box 2
Lindsay, Texas 76250

mikeotto@ottosdirtservice.com

Many men go fishing all of their lives without knowing that it is not fish they are after. ~ Henry David Thoreau

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